Malaria parasite genetics and blood antibody markers in northwest Ecuador
Genomics and sero-epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a pre-elimination setting
This project looks at malaria parasites and people’s blood antibodies in northwest Ecuador to find hidden infections that can keep transmission going and lead to outbreaks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pontificia Universidad Catolica Del Ecuador NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Quito, Ecuador) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324209 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live in northwest Ecuador, researchers may ask for a small blood sample whether you feel sick or not so they can compare the parasite genes and immune responses across people. They will test blood for antibodies that mark recent or past infection and sequence parasites to see how related they are across the region. Lab experiments will explore how acquired immunity affects disease severity and whether certain parasite clones persist or spark outbreaks. The team will use these results to help local health officials target control measures and create a model useful for other areas nearing malaria elimination.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are residents of northwest Ecuador including people with confirmed Plasmodium falciparum infection and people without symptoms who might carry the parasite.
Not a fit: People outside the study region, those with only other malaria species (for example P. vivax), or those unwilling to give blood are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help health officials find and treat hidden infections faster and better target prevention efforts to stop outbreaks.
How similar studies have performed: Genomic and serologic studies have helped reveal transmission links and asymptomatic reservoirs elsewhere, though combining these data with innovative in vitro immunity tests in a pre-elimination setting is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Quito, Ecuador
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica Del Ecuador — Quito, Ecuador (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saenz, Fabian Ernesto — Pontificia Universidad Catolica Del Ecuador
- Study coordinator: Saenz, Fabian Ernesto
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.